On the Twentieth Century

In this classic screwball comedy down on his luck theatre impresario Oscar Jaffee must convince his former flame Lily Garland to star in his latest production before the 20th Century Ltd. reaches New York City!

Note on Digital Perusal: Samuel French's new digital perusal process grants easy, digital access to music perusals while protecting the intellectual property of our composers, book writers, and lyricists. Samuel French perusals are intended to be used for finding the perfect show to fit your theater, casting pool, and resources. Perusals should be used to get acquainted with the music and script. They cannot be used to hold auditions, produce the show without a license, or find sheet music for a separate performance.

CAUTIONS

TAGS

TARGET AUDIENCE

PERFORMANCE GROUP

High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Dinner Theatre, Professional Theatre, Large Stage

RECOGNITION / AWARDS

Tony, From Broadway

WINNER - 1978 Tony Award, Best Book of a MusicalWINNER - 1978 Tony Award, Best Original ScoreWINNER - 1978 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding MusicNOMINEE - 2015 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a MusicalNOMINEE - 2015 Drama Desk Award, Best Revival of a MusicalNOMINEE - 2015 9 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of a MusicalNOMINEE - 2015 Drama League Award, Best Revival of a Musical

Whether performed with elaborate scenery or on a simple scale, this brilliantly comic musical appeals to audiences everywhere. As in the classic original, the story concerns the efforts of a flamboyant theatrical impresario Oscar Jaffe to persuade glamorous film star (and former amour) Lily Garland to appear in his next production while outwitting rival producers, creditors and religious nut Letittia Primrose. And all this before the 20th Century Ltd. reaches NYC!

REVIEWS:

"A rare delight: a musical that tells a story and does so with delicious wit. A hilarious American sequel to My Fair Lady." - Hartford Courant, Read More

"From harmonizing and tap-dancing porters to elaborately staged numbers and many bits of physical comedy in between, the show is a nonstop delight." - The New York Post, Read More

On the Twentieth Century was first presented on Broadway by The Producers Circle 2, Inc., Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, James Cresson, and Martin Richards at the St. James Theatre in New York City on February 19, 1978. It was directed by Harold Prince.

Characters

CASTING

12m, 5f

CASTING ATTRIBUTES

Reduced casting (Doubling Possible), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)

Cy Coleman (June 14, 1929 - November 18, 2004) was born Seymour Kaufman in New York City. Despite early success in the classical and jazz genres, Coleman decided to build a career in popular music. Coleman’s most successful early partnership was with Carolyn Leigh. Coleman's winning streak as a Broadway composer began when the team of Coleman/Leigh collaborated on the musical Wildcat (1960), which ... view full profile

Other Cy Coleman titles:

Adolph Green and Betty Comden (respectively, born December 2, 1915, Bronx, New York—died October 23, 2002, Manhattan, New York; born May 3, 1917, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died November 23, 2006, Manhattan, New York;) were an American musical-comedy team who wrote scripts—and often the lyrics—for many Broadway shows and Hollywood film musicals. They were paired together longer than any other ... view full profile

Other Adolph Green titles:

Betty Comden and Adolph Green (respectively, born May 3, 1917, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died November 23, 2006, Manhattan, New York; born December 2, 1915, Bronx, New York—died October 23, 2002, Manhattan, New York) were an American musical-comedy team who wrote scripts—and often the lyrics—for many Broadway shows and Hollywood film musicals. They were paired together longer than any other writing ... view full profile